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Cubs hand ninth-inning job to Gregg

Team's third closer is 5-for-5 in save opportunities since joining team

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Gregg shuts the door 0:31

5/7/13: Kevin Gregg gets Matt Carpenter to line out to right field, securing the Cubs' 2-1 victory over the Cardinals

By Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- The Cubs are no longer going with a closer by committee. Kevin Gregg has won the job.

Gregg is 5-for-5 in save situations since he joined the Cubs on April 15. The right-hander was in the Dodgers' Spring Training camp, then was released on April 3. He signed with the Cubs on April 14.

"The problems we had, it was a great, great pickup, and he's ran with it and done a heck of a job," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said of Gregg, who has replaced Carlos Marmol, who was replaced by Kyuji Fujikawa. "[Gregg] is a veteran guy who doesn't panic. He's been in those situations before. Those last three outs aren't made for everybody. He throws strikes and has some life on his fastball. He can work both sides of the plate, that's the good thing about it."

Marmol began the season as the Cubs' closer but was removed after the first week of games. Fujikawa took over, but he went on the disabled list April 13 with a strained right forearm. Fujikawa was to make his second Minor League rehab outing on Wednesday and rejoin the Cubs in Washington this weekend.

So, is Gregg the Cubs' closer?

"He seems to be," Sveum said. "Gregg's our closer. That's pretty much the way it is right now. He's obviously earned it, and there's a bigger sample out there now to know that."

Gregg, who closed for the Cubs in 2009, was the Orioles' closer in '11, but he lost the job last season to Jim Johnson.